Considering Matthew Shepard - Free Admission. No Ticket Required for Entry.

2507 University Avenue,Des Moines IA 50311

04 June, 2022

Description

Umeri is pleased to present the Iowa premiere of this deeply moving work that mourns the loss and celebrates the life of Matthew Shepard. Umeri is pleased to present the Iowa premiere of this deeply moving work, which uses a broad range of musical styles (blues, jazz, gospel, country, chant, folk, Broadway, pop, and twenty-first century compositional techniques such as minimalism) to tell a story of wholeness emerging from suffering and brokenness, and a place of unity in diversity. This powerful fusion oratorio celebrates the human potential to move beyond hatred and loss toward compassion and deep understanding. Matthew Shepard was a twenty-one year old University of Wyoming student who was abducted, beaten, tortured, and left to die, tied to a fence in rural Wyoming, in October 1998. His death was viewed as a hate crime and precipitated discussion and legislation at both state and national levels. In 2009 Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. His murder inspired conferences, discussions, a scholarship program, and numerous works of art, include The Laramie Project. Now, from the vantage point of almost a quarter century later, Matthew’s complicated life and death provide us with an opportunity, through this musical work, to reflect on and sing about the “otherizing” so prevalent in our country. The piece helps us to rearrange our world view from arguments over ideas and concepts into a world of encounter, relationship, and presence to others. In the words of Emmanuel Levinas, “It is relationship, ‘the face of the other,’ that transforms us, converts us, and gives us our deepest identity.” Premiered by Conspirare, a Texas professional chorus, in 2016, Considering Matthew Shepard features an eclectic mix of musical textures created by the collaboration of the chorus, soloists, and instrumentalists (strings, percussion, clarinet, acoustic and electric guitars, piano) to provide a sweeping narrative that is both intimate and universal. Umeri unites you to join us for what promises to be an engaging and electrifying performance of this memorable piece. There is no admission charge. Umeri, founded in 2019, is a project-based choir (that is, singers commit to participate on a project-by-project basis) open to all Drake Choir alumni in the Des Moines metro. The choir presents three concerts per year and has collaborated both with Drake instrumental music students and members of the Des Moines Symphony. Of the approximately 75 Drake Choir alumni living in the area, 55 have sung at least once with Umeri and many have performed multiple times. This iteration of Umeri features 30 alumni who graduated from Drake in the years 1992 through 2022.